Global Distribution Management System Software to be Deployed in Eight Nations

Tapestry Solutions, a Boeing company, has won a US Army contract to provide In-Transit Visibility (ITV) for ground transportation logistics in US Central Command’s (CENTCOM) area of operations. The contract calls for the deployment of Tapestry’s Global Distribution Management System (GDMS) to track and manage civilian contractors who move Army equipment and supplies throughout Kuwait, the Trans-Arabian Network and Iraq.

The contract expands upon the company’s current GDMS/ITV programme in Afghanistan. Tapestry’s commercial software solution has served as a key element of the US military’s Host Nation Trucking and subsequent National Afghan Trucking programmes since 2009. The contract, for which work will commence immediately, includes a base year and one-year options.

“The award further illustrates our customers’ confidence in our products, services and people,” observed Tapestry’s Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing, Michael Spencer. “Our dedicated GDMS team manages thousands of transportation movements per month in Afghanistan – working 24 hours a day to safeguard people, data and cargo. We look forward to providing the same level of exceptional service in surrounding nations.”

GDMS acts as a central data fusion system that enables operators to have near real-time visibility, tracking metrics and accountability for all registered commercial vehicles. At the core of GDMS is a centralised database that links cargo movements with vehicles equipped with GPS-based transponders. The system provides panic alarms or alerts to contractors as they pass hazards and checkpoints, and displays the mission data on topographical maps. The system includes instant replay functions that allow for course-of-action analysis.

As an administrative tool, GDMS supports transportation management requests, captures actual delivery times, supports invoicing and validates demurrage charges. The data, captured in the GDMS-Mission Tracker (GDMS-MT) database, also assists with insurance claims, investigations and the military’s litigation efforts.

For CENTCOM, Tapestry will deploy the ITV/GDMS solution to Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Jordan. GDMS will supplement the military’s current RF ITV infrastructure in the region and provide a common operating picture as supplies are transported to tactical operations centres, movement control teams and higher military echelons.